Agricultural Marketing Service April 22, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule proposes a Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order). Softwood lumber is used in products like flooring, siding and framing. The program would be financed by an assessment on softwood lumber domestic manufacturers and importers and would be administered by a board of industry members selected by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary). The initial assessment rate would be $0.35 per thousand board feet of softwood lumber shipped within or imported to the United States. The purpose of the program would be to strengthen the position of softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber, and develop new uses for softwood lumber within the United States. This rule also announces that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is conducting a referendum among eligible domestic softwood lumber manufacturers and importers to determine whether they favor implementation of the program. The program would be implemented if it is favored by a majority of those voting in the referendum who also represent a majority of the volume of softwood lumber represented in the referendum. A separate final rule on referendum procedures is being published in this issue of the Federal Register.